Thanks so much for your comment. I can see how the hits and falls during roller derby would make your Chiari symptoms worse! It’s wonderful that you’ve adjusted your exercise to help you live a better life!!

Exercise is important, but I think my symptoms really got worse when I was playing a contact sport (roller derby- a lot of hits and falls). The increase in head pressure, ear pressure and spots in my eyes is actually what lead me to my diagnosis – before that doctors just said “you’re one of those people that get headaches”.

Now I have been taking it easy (walking, yoga), but know that being fit will make me feel much better. So thank you for this post and helping to point me and others with CM in the right direction!

I’m a 46 year old woman, who has had headaches all my life (from the time I was 4) and what the doctors call visual migraines since I was 20. I am fairly sportive and trained in martial arts for 11 years, and jogged since I was 13.

Last year while weight training I could not lift my arms over my head my ears starting buzzing and the room was spinning at an alarming rate. and I passed out. My trainer decided that it might have been because I did not eat enough. The next day still feeling unwell I proceeded a two hour drive to visit my daughter, the whole drive I felt my right side of my face to be numb or asleep. I had problems seeing in my right eye. I returned home that night…and felt my legs were asleep…went to work the next day and my boss suggested I see
a doctor as I was slurring my words. After 24 hours they were able to tell me I had Chiari Malformation 1. and recommended I see a neurosurgeon.

I waited 8 months (in Canada)…this surgeon had not looked at my CD from the hospital that I brought of my MRI, and wanted to operate the next month (December 2010). I asked how many of these operations he has done…he said the hospital does 2 per year. I thanked him and said I would get back to him. I asked my family doctor for a second opinion. I’m still waiting (it has been another 9 months) to see a second neurosurgeon, in another province at a neuro hospital.

It has been over a year since the diagnosis, constant bad headaches (24 hour around the clock, waking up at night because my head is sore) vision problems, numb legs that I trip and fall down. I have missed a lot of work due to not being well. Hard time swallowing, etc.

I resorted to researching this myself …and went to see a Homeopath who referred me to an Osteopath. I explained to her what I had and brought pictures etc. She did some mild inner layer stretching of my core, and proceeded to carefully (and I stress if you don’t know how to do this, don’t try it) to circulate my blood and fluids in my head. That was in February 2011 and to this date (August 2011) my headaches are gone. I can swallow!! I continue to see her every 2 to 3 weeks the numbness in my legs come and go. and if I over do it or exhurt myself the headaches are back. I still want to see a neurosurgeon but wonder if I would not end up feeling worse??

Osteopath is not the same as a chiropractor (bones) or a massage therapist (muscles).
They go below the muscles and work with the layers of tissue that wrap around the nerves. I feel she was a God sent.

I just returned from holidays in Europe and have been fine, walking a lot has helped. I lost 20 lbs..like your other reader I refuse to sit and get fat and sicker. I will start weight training again using 2 lbs weights SLOWLY and work with my Osteopath until I see my second opinion. Exercise is very important, but know your limits. Drinking a lot of water keeping hydrated is also important.

Do you know of anyone who has refused the operation?
what is your opinion on that? I will not hold you responsible for my decision…I just don’t like the idea of someone opening my head…

Thank you for your time
Ann

Thanks so much for your comment! I’m sure your post will inspire others to keep moving. (Of course, that’s after they get the okay from their physicians!)

We appreciate you sharing your neurologist’s suggestions on exercising with this condition. Headache and neck pain in Chiari I are often exacerbated by cough and Valsalva maneuver. That is a great suggestion to avoid lifting or doing any exercises that cause this reaction.

We will see you soon with more info on physical activity and chiari malformation!

P.S. Great news to hear you don’t suffer from the Chiari-type headache symptoms!!

From what I understand, the most problematic exercises are those that strain the spine and cause a valsalva maneuver type of response. My neurologist has advised me to avoid lifting that might cause this kind of strain. Otherwise, I have not altered my normal cardio routine at all.

I might have this disorder, but I’m not going to sit there and get fat and out of shape, no matter what happens. That will just make things worse, I know it.

I’m looking forward to more articles on exercising with Chiari!

Thanks!